spinach salad
When dining out, many of us think that opting for the salad is the healthiest option. Unfortunately, many dishes are finished off with dressings laden with excess fats, salt and sugar.

This can also be the case when creating quick dinners at home, with lots of us reaching for store-bought bottles, often featuring many mysterious ingredients.

Fortunately, there’s a few really simple homemade dressings that will not only add huge flavour and texture to your meal, but actually be beneficial for your health. Click on to find our what they are:

Text: The Australian Women’s Weekly / Additional Reporting: Sean Tan

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Easy Couscous Salad
Easy Couscous Salad


Lemon Juice and Olive Oil

This classic combination is loved all around the world, with many people claiming a Mediterranean diet rich in healthy fats is extremely beneficial for our health.

Not only does this simple combination add a lovely fragrant flavour to your chopped vegetables, meat and seafood, but a good quality olive oil is packed full of heart-loving omega-3 fatty acids, which has been linked to reducing your risk of cardiovascular disease.

Plus, when it’s coupled with vitamin C-loaded lemon juice, it’s just as healthy as it is delicious creating a lovely zesty and fragrant dressing.

For a nuttier twist on this classic dressing recipe, try combining hazelnut oil with lemon juice and drizzling over a warm salad with blanched greens and boiled eggs.

Try your dressing tossed through this Easy Couscous Salad.

Sesame Coronation Chicken Salad
Sesame Coronation Chicken Salad

Greek Yoghurt

This is a great way to create that creamy dressing consistency, without all the added fats, preservatives and cholesterol that comes with the ones in a bottle.

Apart from being deliciously creamy and having a beautifully tart flavour, Greek yoghurt is packed full of nutrients like protein, calcium and gut-loving probiotics.

It goes brilliantly drizzled over warm roasted vegetables and hearty legumes. We love adding a drizzle of lemon juice with ours to create a lovely zest and making a lighter consistency to toss through your salad.

Try it in this dressing for this Sesame Coronation Chicken Salad recipe.

Quinoa Salad With Broccoli
Quinoa Salad With Broccoli & Orange

Pomegranate and Honey

For those who like a sweeter dressing, try this beautiful combination.

Pairing tart pomegranate molasses with naturally sweet honey, this beautiful dressing goes well with Middle Eastern spices and richer cuts of meat like lamb.

To mix it up quickly at home, combine 3 tbsps of pomegranate molasses, 2 tbsps extra virgin olive oil, 1 tsp softened manuka honey, 1/4 tsp sea salt and a squirt of fresh lemon juice.

Try adding it to this Quinoa Salad With Broccoli & Orange for a zesty punch of flavour.

Mexican Chicken Tacos Easy Man-Pleasing Snacks
Mexican Chicken Tacos

Buttermilk & Garlic

We love combining creamy and tart buttermilk with garlic as a healthy alternative to caesar dressing to drizzle over your cos lettuce.

Buttermilk is packed full of protein and calcium, giving you a nice dose of essential nutrients with every serving. It’s also relatively low in sugar, creating a creamy, savoury base for dressing.

Combine it with zingy minced garlic for a creamy and tasty way to jazz up your salads.

It can also go well with other dishes other than salads; try the dressing with these Mexican Chicken Tacos.

 

Shredded Lamb Burger with Rosemary Wedges
Shredded Lamb Burger With Rosemary Wedges

Tahini and Herbs

Tahini is the lovely creamy and nutty spread that is used as the base for dips like hummus. It’s made from blending sesame seeds at a high speed, creating a rich, creamy sauce that’s packed full of healthy fats.

We love mixing ours with lemon juice, garlic and fresh herbs like flat-leaf parsley.

Try serving it with this Shredded Lamb Burger With Rosemary Wedges, or it’s just as lovely drizzled over a warm lamb salad or roasted pumpkin dish.